Estelle Bethea

Mollie Estelle Bethea age 95 of Arkadelphia died Saturday, March 15, 2014 at Shepherd's Cove in Little Rock.  She was born in Dumas, AR February 22, 1919 the daughter of Coke and Mollie Roberson Cotham.  She taught high school in Dumas and Arkadelphia and during WWII worked at Worthen Bank in Little Rock. Mollie married the "Love of her life", Bob Bethea April 28, 1946.  The Betheas lived in Arkadelphia where "Cot", as she was known by friends, enjoyed 25 years of employment as receptionist and switchboard operator at Reynolds Metals Patterson Plant where she was known by many as "The voice of Reynolds".  The Betheas also owned and operated Bethea's Mens Wear on Main Street in Arkadelphia in the 1950's.  She was a member of P.E.O. and First Presbyterian Church of Arkadelphia.  She enjoyed the last ten years of her life at Shepherd's Cove in Little Rock.  She was preceded in death by husband, parents, and one sister, Alice Lee Cotham Anderson of Arkadelphia.
 
Survivors include one daughter Barbara Thornton and her husband Ronnie of Newburgh, IN, one granddaughter, Kimberly Thornton Dapig and her husband James and great granddaughter Gabrielle "Gabby" all of Seattle, WA, and one brother, James Cotham of Oklahoma.
 
Funeral services will be 2 PM Tuesday in the Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Chapel in Arkadelphia. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Gardens.  Visitation will be 1 PM till service time Tuesday at the funeral home.      Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Arkadelphia, 1220 Pine St, Arkadelphia, AR 71923 or Shepherd's Cove Memorial Garden Fund, 3 Shepherd's Cove, Little Rock, AR 72205.  Sign on-line guest book at www.ruggleswilcox.com .